Fukang'an frowned and asked, "Why?"
"Young Master Delin was kidnapped from the manor, and his personal silver lock was found with Miss Yanning. The Old Madam then arrested and interrogated me and Zhuxiang, but we knew Miss Yanning wasn't that kind of person, so we spoke up for her, and the Old Madam locked us up. Later, I heard that Miss Yanning was given twenty strokes of the cane and also received a military whipping. When the Old Madam saw that Miss Yanning still wouldn't confess, she sent people to search the Fu residence, and they found Young Master Delin in the room where Miss Liuxiang lived in Liuxiang Garden. The Old Madam then expelled Miss Yanning from the manor and gave an order that anyone who dared to help Miss Yanning would be expelled along with her." Zhao Xing knelt on the ground and told the whole story in one go, feeling extremely remorseful for not being able to help Yanning.
After hearing Zhao Xing's words, Fukang'an's eyes turned cold, and he slammed his fist on the rosewood table. "Where is Yan Ning now?"
Zhao Xing wiped away his tears and replied, "After I was released, I inquired everywhere and found out that Miss Yan Ning had been rescued by Lord Heshen and taken to his residence, where she had been unconscious for several days. I knew you were coming back, so I waited in front of the Heshen residence for several days, but I didn't see Miss Yan Ning come out of the residence. I don't know if she is doing well. General, you must seek justice for Miss Yan Ning! She must have been wronged. She has never treated us servants like servants. How could such a kind girl do anything to harm Young Master Delin?"
"You may leave!" Fukang'an said in a stern voice.
"yes!"
“General,” Xi Ying, who was in the inner room, had already overheard Fukang’an’s conversation with Zhao Xing. From Fukang’an’s expression, she knew that he would not blame Yan Ning. “You didn’t sleep all night, have a cup of tea to refresh yourself!” Xi Ying took the covered bowl from Xia’er and handed it to Fukang’an.
Fukang'an took the covered bowl, glanced at Xi Ying, and placed it on the table without lifting the lid, making a sound that struck Xi Ying's heart.
Just as Xi Ying reached the chair and was about to sit down, she heard Fukang'an place the covered bowl on the table and immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "Please punish me, General!"
“What did I say to you in the letter!” Fukang’an’s voice held a hint of anger.
Xi Ying knelt beside the chair, tears streaming down her face. "The General did instruct me not to let Yan Ning enter the manor before you returned. But who in the world doesn't love their child? A mother carries a child for ten months, and De Lin and I have long been bound by life and death. On the day the General was not here, when I was in difficult labor, I thought my life was over and I would become a ghost. How can I remain calm and composed when you ask me to show you the rare bond between mother and son De Lin!"
Looking at Xi Ying kneeling on the ground, Fukang'an felt a pang of pity. When he went to war, Delin was still in her womb. Although her letters home mentioned the difficult childbirth, they were mostly reassuring words. Thinking of this, Fukang'an got up, went to Xi Ying's side, and helped her up.
Xi Ying looked at Fukang'an and said, "Xi Ying doesn't believe it was Yan Ning who did it, but De Lin was quite frightened at the time, and I was really too busy to take care of him. Once the general brings my sister back, I will definitely apologize to her in person."
"General, Madam, the young master is crying!" Qiu'er reported loudly.
Fukang'an and Xiying rushed into the inner room and saw two maids pressing down on Delin's hands.
“Young Master insists on scratching the blisters on his body! We servants are afraid…” one of the servants reported.
"Get out of the way, all of you!" Xi Ying shouted at the two of them. After the servants stepped back, she picked up De Lin and coaxed him gently, "Good boy, De Lin, let me blow on it and it won't itch anymore, okay?"
The unconscious Delin didn't respond, only crying incessantly. Fukang'an sat on the bed, holding Delin's fidgeting little hand. The joy of becoming a father for the first time hadn't faded before the worry about his son's illness overwhelmed him. For a moment, he had no time to think of anything else. He thought that Heshen, out of respect for him, would surely not dare to mistreat Yan Ning, and if he brought Yan Ning back now, the murderer would definitely take advantage of his distraction, which would be detrimental to Yan Ning. Fukang'an decided to let her stay at Heshen's residence for the time being.
"General, the young master's fever has subsided and he is no longer in danger. Just be careful not to scratch the blisters and leave scars," the imperial physician said to Fukang'an, who had been standing beside him for two days without sleep, after taking Delin's pulse.
"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician, Zhao Xing!" Fukang'an called out, and Zhao Xing brought up a tray of silver ingots, covered with a red cloth, and handed it to the Imperial Physician's attendant.
"General, you are too kind. I will take my leave now!" The imperial physician was secretly impressed by Fukang'an's generosity in receiving such a generous gift.
"Send the imperial physician!"
Seeing that his son was out of danger, Fukang'an wanted to resolve Yan Ning's matter as soon as possible, so he walked towards Xiang'er's courtyard.
"Aunt Lian, the General is here!" Rongxi said to Xiang'er, who was lying on the bed, as soon as she saw the General enter the courtyard.
Xiang'er hadn't figured out how to face Fukang'an, so she ignored Rongxi and lay in bed pretending to be asleep.
Fukang'an entered the room and saw that Xiang'er did not get up to greet him. He walked to the bedside, sat down, and looked at Xiang'er, who had her back to him, and said jokingly, "Why have you suddenly changed your attitude? You haven't made a scene even though I've been back for several days and haven't come to see you. This is not like you."
Tears welled in Xiang'er's closed eyes. Three years of longing had passed, and she had also longed to rush to Fukang'an's side the very day he returned. Fukang'an was meticulous and intelligent; he knew that Yan Ning's affair would eventually lead back to him. Rather than see him sever ties with her first, she decided to withdraw from this power struggle between women.
"Looks like she's really asleep?" Fukang'an leaned on Xiang'er's shoulder and asked tentatively. Seeing that Xiang'er still didn't respond, he said, "Then I'm leaving. Rongxi, close the door and let Aunt Lian rest well!" After saying that, he waved to Rongxi to close the door and leave, and then hid behind the screen.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
